Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 41 › Conversation 041-022

Nixon phone call with Rebozo on Leonid Brezhnev and Howard Hughes

Thursday, June 21, 1973 · 3:52 PM–3:56 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Rebozo, Charles G. ("Bebe")Conversation041-022 on Tape 41StartThursday, June 21, 1973 at 3:52 PMEndThursday, June 21, 1973 at 3:56 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 041-022 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and his close associate Bebe Rebozo discuss recent diplomatic meetings with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and address ongoing concerns regarding the handling of a Howard Hughes financial contribution. Rebozo updates the President on the strategy for returning the funds, confirming that his lawyer, Kenneth Gemmill, is managing the process with a representative from New York. Rebozo also expresses relief after being assured by his legal counsel that he faces no legal jeopardy regarding the matter.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
Well, we just got back from Camp David and signed another agreement.
Oh, I tell you, it looks great.
Yeah.
It looks great.
We're just working our tails off, boy, I tell you.
I've had a meal with this guy every night, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
I went to Thursday night and one in San Clemente Friday night and then Saturday night.
And then he goes back, boy, I'll be ready to eat with you.
What are you eating, the Russian stuff?
No, no, no, no, no.
We will tonight because he's the host, but we've just been the host so far.
You got a little cold.
No, I haven't.
No, you sound like you do.
No, I must be the connection, right.
I cured mine well.
Good, good.
I got mine cured.
Good, good, good.
Wondered about Calhoun.
Well, I guess old Calhoun, they ought to be doing something now.
I told them to call me when they had something accomplished.
Did your man write a letter with it?
Oh, you see, we were going to tell him, but now the strategy is to hand it to him, get a receipt.
I see.
We were going to write a letter if the old Calhoun didn't get through.
I'm not happy about the way he came through, as a matter of fact, but nonetheless...
The way he's doing it is sending the lawyer, huh?
Yeah.
That's all right.
No, I mean...
done what I asked him to do five, six weeks ago, this could have been long behind us.
I don't know what kind of machinery could have gotten in motion in the meantime, but I think it'd be all right.
The main thing is that it's done, right?
It's out of my hands, anyway.
Right.
It's out of my hands.
You've given it to the lawyer, right?
Yes.
But if the man doesn't take it, to heck with it.
It's out of my hands.
He's supposed to show up this afternoon, is he?
Yes, sir.
He's supposed to be with Campbell this afternoon, and then go to Washington, and then
He's going to Washington, I mean to New York, rather, and work it out.
So they'll probably do it late this afternoon or tomorrow.
I haven't heard anything on it.
You mean Gimel's going to talk to the...
Yes, the fellow's going to stop by there to see him.
What, the fellow from Washington?
Yeah, the fellow from New York.
he's going to stop by to see him on his way back from Washington and then
But, you know, the most important thing is that, as far as Gemmell is concerned, you asked him about the legal thing.
What did he say about it?
I asked him this time again.
I said, no one has told me yet what my status is.
If there's anything that I've done legally wrong, he just shook his head.
He said, no.
Get a gout.
Good.
Well, fine.
I'll give you a...
I'll maybe give you a call tomorrow and find out how it's coming.
Okay.
All right.
All right, sir.
Bye.

NARA Description

On June 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 3:52 pm to 3:56 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 041-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 41-22

Date: June 21, 1973
Time: 3:52 pm - 3:56 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo.

[See also Conversation No. 447-30]

     President’s schedule
           -Camp David
                 -Agreements with Leonid I. Brezhnev
           -Brehznev
                 -Daily dinners
                       -Cuisine

     Rebozo’s health

     Watergate
          -Hughes contribution to Rebozo
               -“Calhoun” [nickname of unnamed undividual]
               -Return of money
               -Lawyer, Kenneth Gemmill
                     -Forthcoming conversation with man from New York
                     -Rebozo’s legal status
                                              -13-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on June 21, 1973

  • 041-021 3:45 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:52 pm.
  • 447-026 3:45 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:52 pm.
  • 447-027 3:45 PM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:52 pm.
  • 447-028 3:45 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:45 pm and 3:52 pm.
  • 447-030 3:52 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:52 pm to 3:56 pm.
  • 041-023 3:55 PM · 15 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 4:08 pm.
  • 041-024 3:55 PM · 3 min — Henry A. Kissinger and J. William Fulbright talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 4:08 pm.
  • 447-031 3:56 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and J. William Fulbright met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:56 pm to 4:08 pm.

All 28 conversations from June 21, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 041-022, June 21, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/041-022 (accessed October 9, 2026).